amphytrite's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence and Drug abuse
Moderate: Cursing and Suicide
Minor: Eating disorder, Vomit, Dementia, and Panic attacks/disorders
debbitomsk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Drug use and Drug abuse
Moderate: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
madihammond's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Drug abuse
Moderate: Suicide
elykeepthefaith's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Suicide
Moderate: Bullying and Gun violence
mandkips's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicide, Drug abuse, and Addiction
Moderate: Sexual content, Bullying, and Drug use
eli_is_trying's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Suicide, Drug use, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Addiction, Death, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Misogyny, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Toxic friendship, and Physical abuse
nikolemrtnz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Suicide
buntatamilis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Suicide and Eating disorder
Moderate: Drug use and Drug abuse
Minor: Sexual content
busyblackbookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I think this book is sometimes marketed as being a “fun” read and I’m not sure I agree with that…the magical realism element itself is fun, I suppose, but most of the substance is quite serious and weighty. In general, I found this a creative tale that interweaves magical realism with real lived experiences. I will say that Neil was not a particularly likable character (I feel that was a goal of Sathian’s, though) and there was one early plot point that kind of confused me and felt incredible even when I suspended my disbelief…Ultimately, a solid read but I’m not sure that this “wowed” me in the way I was hoping.
If you’re interested in magical realism, this might be for you! Please do check out the content warnings for this as there is some heavy content.
Graphic: Child death and Suicide
Moderate: Bullying, Drug abuse, and Drug use
kinomatica's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Suicide, Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Colonisation, Drug use, and Child death
Moderate: Addiction, Dementia, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Gun violence